Richard Blatchford Graduate Student (Master Program) Major Professor: Dr. Joy A Mench Phone: (530) 752-3643 FAX: (530)752-0175 E-mail: rablatchford@ucdavis.edu

Education: 

• B.S., Psychobiology, Hiram College, Hiram, OH  2001

• M.S., Avian Science, UC Davis, Davis, CA, In Progress       

Project Title: The Effect of Scotoperiod Length on Broiler Behavior and Welfare

The purpose of this study is to explore the effects of different continuous lengths of scotoperiods, or dark periods, on the welfare of broiler chickens. Many different lighting programs are in use in the industry, but there has been little experimental evaluation of the effects of these programs on the behavior and welfare of the birds. One lighting program used by the industry is 23L:1D. This lighting schedule has been criticized because it can be associated with higher rates of ascites, leg disorders, and disruption of resting behavior. The European Commission Report on the Welfare of Broilers (2000) recently reviewed the literature related to lighting schedules. This review suggested that at least 4 hours of continuous darkness per day was necessary for optimal skeletal development and health of broilers, with 6-8 hours providing increasing benefits; the consensus of the committee was that at least 2 hours of continuous darkness be provided per day. However, there is in fact relatively little scientific evidence to support a recommendation for any particular length dark period. In this study, we will evaluate the effect of three different lighting regimes (23L:1D, 20L:4D, and 16L:8D) on behavior patterns, feed consumption, body weight, and walking ability, as well as skin, foot, leg condition, and causes of mortality.

Past Experience/Research:

• A comparative study of the defense behaviors of Theraphosid spiders (Araneae: Theraphosidae) (tarantulas)
• The effects of 17β-estradiol on male guppy sexual behavior
• A tonic for the winter blues: The effects of enrichment on two African crowned crane species
• A survey of pre-breeding social behavior of captive wrinkled hornbills
• Teaching sandhill cranes to fly with a hang glider to help pilots learn to fly with cranes as part of a release program for Siberian cranes
• Animal husbandry at J.H. Barrow Field Station, Hiram College’s Psychobiology labs, the International Crane Foundation, and the Wildlife Conservation Society (St. Catherine’s Island)